World welcomes 2018

The New Year has officially begun, as midnight passed in Samoa, Tonga and Christmas Island/Kiribati, the first places in the world to welcome in 2018.

The last places on Earth to see in the New Year are minor outlying US islands like Baker Island and Howland Island - although these are uninhabited. The last inhabited island is American Samoa which will welcome 2018 when it's 11am in London on January 1.

When major cities will welcome 2018

11.00 GMT Auckland, New Zealand

13:00 GMT Sydney, Australia

15:00 Tokyo

16:00 Beijing and Hong Kong

20:00 Dubai

23:00 Paris, Rome and Brussels

00:00 London

05:00 New York

08:00 Los Angeles

New Yorkers have been warned as they prepare for one of the coldest New Year celebrations on record.

Revellers have been told to bring handwarmers, wrap up warm and avoid alcohol as they flock to Times Square, which is due to hit a frosty 11 degrees celcius, which would tie for second place with 1962. The coldest ever recorded New Year's Eve at Times Square was in 1917, when it was -17 Celsius at midnight.

Drinking alcohol is warned against because it causes body temperature to drop faster. Partygoers have been told to cover all exposed skin.

Spectacular fireworks fill Australia's skies

Sydney, Australia rang in the New Year at 1pm UK time, after a family-friendly firework show earlier in the evening. The Opera House could be seen illuminated by the fireworks as an estimated 1.6 million people gathered to watch.

Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the display would enforce the city's position as the New Year's Eve capital of the world

"It'll promote Sydney to the world. There'll be a billion viewers out there watching."

Melbourne also celebrated in style, with 14 tonnes of fireworks launched from the top of 22 city buildings.

New Zealand celebrates the new year

Record numbers were expected to show up to New Zealand's new year celebrations as it became one of the first countries to celebrate 2018, at 11am UK time.

In Auckland, revellers were treated to reggae music from local bands at a block party and in Rotorua, there is a free festival featuring local entertainment, fireworks and the hedline act Elemeno P. There are quite a few festivals happening across the country - but alcohol has been banned in many parts of New Zealand including Queenstown, Frankton, Arrowtown, Wanaka and Hawea.

This came into effect on Wednesday and will be in place until the 6th.

The alcohol bans are put in place to avoid disruption and danger, but the elements caused some chaos, with a south-westerley wind hitting the beaches and sending towels and umbrellas flying. Police were also forced to deal with escaped sheep.

First country rings in the New Year

Samoa became the first country to celebrate 2018 as midnight struck on the islands.